HOUSTON, March 17, 2010 – The University of Houston and the Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (IT-BHU), Varanasi, India, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will allow the two universities to explore new methods of cooperation in instruction and academic exchange. This new working relationship will include joint education programs at the graduate level, exchange visits of scholars and faculty collaboration in research and technology.
IT-BHU is one of India's oldest and highest-ranked engineering colleges, having pioneered degree courses in mining, metallurgy, ceramics and pharmaceutics in India. IT-BHU contributes significantly to the advancement of science and technology in India in a number of ways and has produced world-class engineers and scientists. Alumni of IT-BHU are achieving success in India and abroad as entrepreneurs, managers, technocrats, consultants and advisers, and as faculty members and researchers. It is frequently rated as one of the best technical institutes in the world.
"We are committed to providing our students with a nationally competitive global education in which they'll get to know students from around the world and from down the street," said UH President Renu Khator. "The Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University provides versatile postgraduate training and conducts sophisticated research in engineering and technology. The collaborations made possible by this MOU will benefit both institutions and will enhance the already comprehensive education we offer in the UH Cullen College of Engineering."
According to the MOU, IT-BHU seeks a more vital graduate program that would attract more of their students to graduate study, as well as meeting critical national and regional needs in their country. UH seeks to assist that effort by aiding in the development of programs that meet those needs, and by providing expedited entry into UH graduate programs.
Collaborative programs the two institutions will explore include:
- Dual degree programs in which degrees could be granted by both parties.
- A program in which IT-BHU students would participate in specially designed master's programs, following which the students would have the option to complete their Ph.D.s in similar programs at UH.
- A program in which IT-BHU students could take at UH a certain fraction of courses required for selected graduate degrees at IT-BHU, either in residence or by appropriately designed distance education.
The MOU agreement is for five years.
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston is a comprehensive national research institution serving the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. UH serves 37,000 students in the nation's fourth-largest city in the most ethnically and culturally diverse region in the country.
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